Last week leader of Hastings Borough Council Peter Chowney had his long awaited meeting with Sheikh Abid Gulzar the new owner of Hastings Pier, after the meeting Mr Chowney said: “I was pleased I was able to meet Mr Gulzar this week. He has some interesting ideas to develop the pier as a major attraction, which we will be happy to look at in more detail.

“We have agreed to have regular meetings between senior officers and Mr Gulzar’s management team and for the pier to be represented on the stakeholder groups which deal with the seafront.

“The council will be happy to work with them to make sure any developments are carried out sensitively, recognising the status of the pier as a Grade 2 listed building, and will encourage them to involve the Hastings local community in developing their proposals.”

On Friday Hastings MP Amber Rudd visited the Let’s Do Business Group at their office in Ocean House, St Leonards.

Ms Rudd met members of the team before presenting them with the Small and Medium Enterprise of the Year award for 2018. The award is part of the annual national awards offered by the Careers Enterprise Company.

The Let’s Do Business group provide support and advice to businesses wishing to start, grow, and move into East Sussex.

Ms Rudd said: “ The Let’s Do Business Group is one of these great local businesses who not only help provide jobs to local people but also help businesses come and get set up in our area.

“I was delighted to present them with the Small and Medium Enterprise of the Year award, it goes to show that we have a talented pool of workers in our area who are focussed on improving their own skills while also helping the local community.”

And West St Leonards councillor Karl Beaney was full of praise last week for the work of Ian Jarman in trying to bring greater attention to the statue of King Harold and his wife Edith Swanneck that sits in West Marina Gardens.

Last week Mr Jarman announced he’d received permission to put a plaque on the statue and to begin cleaning it, on hearing the news Mr Beaney said: “This is all down to Ian’s hard work and determination. It’s great news that the statue will finally get a plaque and visitors will be able to identify it. Without Ian’s passion, knowledge and determination this would not have happened.

“I look forward to seeing the plaque on the statue and I hope in the future we can realise Ian’s ideas to protect the statue for future generations.”